Gratitude + A Gift
Feb 22, 2022
Happy Tuesday, friend!
Today is a short and sweet newsletter. On the topic of gratitude (thank you Lisa for asking this question, btw!)
The goal of the gratitude practice is to help you connect with your heart - love, appreciation, and joy. It's a spiritual practice, which makes your life better - the more consistently you practice.
I didn't know much about it or its metaphysical meaning a decade ago, but I intuitively started doing it. After seeing some friends of mine practice it at home.
What I've learned over the years is this: it helps. No matter how shitty your day has been.
There are different variations of this practice. But here is one:
Before dinner, say 5-10 things you are grateful for. It can be done with yourself or with others at the table.
First, I would pause. Then, I would bring my hands to my heart. Then, I would be super authentic and say something that feels honest, vulnerable, and meaningful.
For example,
1. I am grateful for this pain I feel in my heart right now.
2. I am grateful for the resistance I feel to my life right now. I feel this resistance. I don't know what it is about yet. I am trying to be open to learning.
3. I am grateful that I am able to feel my breath right now. It feels good.
4. I am grateful that my friend ... called me and we had a nice chat.
5. I am grateful I can feel my emotions and it's ok to feel them.
What You Focus On - Grows. When you notice the light - it grows.
A gratitude practice activates your own self-healer - your heart. When you have an intimate conversation with yourself - and give yourself time to be heard, seen, and witnessed - IN LOVE - magic happens. Yes, outside of noticing the things you have in life - friends, possessions, accomplishments, it's also designed to be a compassionate and loving witness of your inner state.
And then you learn to be grateful not just in moments of victories and exuberance, but also in the quiet moments of pain, grief, and sorrow.
I have a gift for you today. I recorded this meditation to help you connect to feelings of gratitude in your heart. Enjoy and let me know how it goes. Would love to hear from you.
Xo,
Mariya.